This is How You Can Help Your Work-From-Home Employees Disconnect
Remote working has made disconnecting from work difficult for many. How can you help your employees disconnect from work? Read on to know more.
The burning question for remote workers is how to disconnect from work? A remote work survey shows that employees are working longer hours when at home. Many struggle to disconnect. This could easily blur the line between work and personal life and lead to a serious work-life imbalance. So what can employers and leaders do to help their employees disconnect from work now and then?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the Covid-19 pandemic has greatly strained many people’s mental health. Employee burnout could be the result if employers do not take necessary steps to ensure that their employees are taking caution of their work time. Here are a few tips to help your employees unplug at the end of the workday.
Do not overwork your employees
The pandemic led to many employees being fired, laid-off, and furloughed. Many companies now have a shortage of employees and this leads to assigning extra work to the remaining ones. Ensure that you do not overwork your employees. It could lead to serious burnout and many would be tempted to quit and leave the company.
Keep a regular systematic schedule
Work with your colleagues, team leaders, and employees to fix a workday schedule. Agree on “work hours”. Set periods for availability and communication.
For example, let your employees know that emails after such and such time need not be entertained till the next day. Also, try to stick to those agreed work hours. Ensure that everyone has agreed verbally that the schedule is practical for them. Be considerate, sympathetic, reasonable, and realistic when creating such schedules and tasks. Assign tasks systematically and regularly so that your employees have a good idea of what to do in the coming days. Keep in mind that remote working is different and unpredictable.
Communication is key
Regular communication is the solution to many problems that arise in the workplace. Reach out to your employees and enquire about their living conditions. Some of them may be parents, spouses, and have other responsibilities. Some may have their own office space while others may work on their kitchen table.
You may ask about their needs, and ask if the company objectives and goals are reasonable and practical to work on when working at home. Ask if the company should make any changes or adjustments. Be upfront and transparent with what is happening in the company.
Encourage your employees to socialize with each other and talk about anything else but work
Human beings are social animals. One of the biggest challenges many of us faced during the pandemic was separation and isolation. Employees might miss their coffee breaks and lunch breaks. They may long for their interactions with their coworkers. Those interactions build comradeship and can also lead to productivity.
Encourage your employees to talk with others, share funny incidents, and chat about anything besides work. Encourage them to motivate each other, send pictures of their achievements or their loved ones, and have a good laugh every now and then.
Keep an office space
Keeping a separate space to work can make things quite easy. Also, create a break space. This will also increase your productivity and at the same time you can leave your work “physically”.
Staying at home will remind you of all the household chores, grocery lists, laundry, and so on. Having an “office” at your home will distance you from such distractions. These very simple tips can help you to focus on your work and help you take successful breaks from it. You can so easily be able to plug and unplug from work in no time.
Help them embrace emotional well being
Mental health has become a major issue in recent days. The pandemic has caused a great strain on the mental health of many. Emotional and mental wellness is important. Taking care of them is not something to be done lightly.
Take regular breaks from work. Take walks, drink enough water, exercise, and have a balanced diet. You may try out yoga and meditation as well. Try anything that pleases you like reading, writing in a journal, gardening, cooking, etc. These will not only recharge you but also keep you fit and sane in this ever-changing world.
Remote working is harsh on both employees and employers. Staying top of the business is important. But at the same time, it is extremely important to keep a healthy work-life balance. So before swiping through your phones first thing in the morning, grab a glass of water.
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